Solar Cells Info

Ontario, CA and San Jose, CA, Sept 24, 2008
Source: PRNewswire/SunPower Corp. press release
http://investors.sunpowercorp.com/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=336440

Toyota and SunPower Corporation (NASDAQ:SPWR) , a manufacturer of high-efficiency solar cells, solar panels and solar systems, today announced the completion of the largest single-roof solar power installation in North America. The 2.3-megawatt SunPower system will begin operation in early October at Toyota’s North America Parts Center California (NAPCC) in Ontario, Calif.

Toyota expects the solar installation will provide nearly 60 percent of the total electricity needs for the 760,000-square foot NAPCC. The system covers more than 242,000 square feet of the NAPCC’s roof and includes 10,417 solar modules, enough to cover more than four football fields. It is expected to avoid about 6.4 million pounds of carbon dioxide emissions annually, which is the equivalent to the emissions from the energy use of approximately 255 homes in a year. (more…)

Success in Trial Manufacture of BN/Si Heterodiode Solar Cell
September 04, 2008
Source: National Institute for Materials Science NIMS, Japan press release
http://www.nims.go.jp/eng/news/press/press080904-1.html
Abstract
1. A team led by Dr. Shojiro Komatsu, Group Leader of the Wide Band Gap Semiconductor Group, Advanced Electronic Materials Center of the National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS; President: Teruo Kishi) succeeded for the first time in the world in trial manufacturing a solar cell using high density boron nidtride (sp3-bonding BN), which is transparent to visible light and is one of the strongest of materials (high temperature refractory). (more…)

by Windsor Genova – AHN News Writer, New York, September 12, 2008
Source: AllHeadNews.com
http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7012276449

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon took a solar-powered cab to work on Friday to raise awareness about climate change and to promote environmentally-friendly technologies.  The ride on the Swiss-built Solartaxi took Ban from his home in New York to the UN Secretariat building. Louis Palmer, the Solartaxi’s inventor, drove him to his office. (more…)

Solar Projects Would Supply Enough Renewable Energy Equivalent to the Energy Needs of 239,000 Californian Homes
San Franscisco, CA., Aug 14, 2008
Source: SunPower Corp. press release
http://investors.sunpowercorp.com/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=328221

Pacific Gas and Electric Company today announced it has entered into two utility-scale, photovoltaic (PV) solar power contracts for a total of 800 megawatts (MW) of renewable energy. This significant commitment to photovoltaic technology will deliver cumulatively 1.65 billion kilowatt-hours of renewable energy annually. This would be equivalent to the amount of energy needed to serve approximately 239,000 residential homes each year. PG&E entered into an agreement with Topaz Solar Farms LLC, a subsidiary of OptiSolar Inc., for 550 MW of thin-film PV solar power. The utility also signed a contract with High Plains Ranch II, LLC, a subsidiary of SunPower Corporation (Nasdaq: SPWR), for 250 MW of high-efficiency PV solar power. (more…)

San Jose, CA., Sept 09, 2008
Source: SunPower Corp. press release
http://investors.sunpowercorp.com/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=333249

SunPower Corporation (Nasdaq: SPWR), a Silicon Valley-based manufacturer of high-efficiency, solar cells, solar panels, and solar systems, today announced that the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has installed a 205-kilowatt SunPower solar-electric system atop the roof of the Forrestal Building in Washington, D.C. U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Samuel W. Bodman dedicated the system at a ceremony being held at the facility today. (more…)

by Maulik Pathak, Ahmedabad September 17, 2008
Source: Business Standard.com
http://www.business-standard.com/india/storypage.php?autono=334659

After unveiling its plans to harness wind energy, ONGC, the country’s leading crude and gas producer, now plans to foray into solar and geothermal energy. The company is in talks with four companies, including a US-based firm, for setting up a photovoltaic (PV) cells unit.  The oil and gas major is also exploring geothermal energy for which it is in talks with Iceland government. All these projects will be carried out under its ONGC Energy Centre housed at Rajiv Gandhi Urja Bhavan, New Delhi. (more…)

New york, September 12, 2008
Source: Associated press/CNNMoney.com
http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/apwire/d3bfc4e2089883a8a96af9b6c551e3b4.htm

LDK Solar Co. Ltd. said Friday it has signed an 11-year agreement with Q-Cells AG of Germany to process solar-grade silicon into wafers. LDK, based in Xinyu City, China, said it will process at least 20,000 metric tons of solar grade silicon provided by Q-Cells between 2008 and 2018 with an option to process an additional 21,000 metric tons in the same decade. (more…)

by Nuying Huang, Taipei; Steve Shen
Source: DIGITIMES, 15 September 2008
http://www.digitimes.com/bits_chips/a20080915PD210.html

Taiwan Glass Industrial (TGI) plans to invest an additional NT$2 billion (US$62.7 million) in the next three years in its plant in Changpin Industrial Park in central Taiwan to produce glass products for the solar cell industry, according to data provided by the Industrial Development Bureau (IDB) of Taiwan’s Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA).

The new investment will call for the production of super white PV (photovoltaic) glass, TCO (transparent conductive oxide)-based glass substrate for thin-film solar cells as well as glass fibers for windmill generators, the data showed. Currently, super white PV glass accounts for 3-4% of overall production costs of silicon type solar cells, whereas TCO glass substrate accounts for 15-20% of production costs of thin-film solar cells, the IDB noted.

by Gina Roos, Green SupplyLine. Irvine, CA, 15 Sept 2008
source: EETimes.com
http://www.eetimes.com/news/latest/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=210601719

Quantum Fuel Systems Technologies Worldwide, Inc. has announced that its German solar photovoltaic partner, Asola Advanced and Automotive Solar Systems GmbH will establish a joint venture (JV) manufacturing plant in South Korea with Q&Tech/Yongsan, a high-volume manufacturer of electronic and automotive components in Korea. Under the Memorandum of Understanding, Asola will build a 30 megawatt (MW) solar production facility to manufacture and distribute German-designed solar modules in South Korea. Initial capacity is set at 30 MW, consisting or mono- and poly-crystalline silicon solar modules, with projected revenues in excess of $100 million annually. (more…)

Tempe, AZ, Sept.15, 2008
source: Amtech Systems, Inc press release
http://www.mkr-group.com/ASYS/investors/pressreleases/9.15.08.html

Amtech Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:ASYS – News), a global supplier of production and automation systems and related supplies for the manufacture of solar cells, semiconductors, and silicon wafers, today announced that its solar subsidiary, Tempress Systems, Inc., has received $9.0 million in follow-on solar orders for its diffusion processing systems from two existing customers based in Asia. (more…)